macrumors 65816

Hello. I have $200 that I'm able to spend on a new laptop. I'm looking for something that is relatively new (with Windows 8) to use as a companion to my desktop. I just need this for Skype, word processing, and general computing. Gaming and intensive applications will be kept on my desktop.

I was looking into the Acer C7 because I'm perfectly fine using Chrome OS. I use all of Google's services (including Drive instead of Microsoft Office) but the battery life is atrocious. Then I also looked into getting an ASUS Transformer TF101 with a keyboard dock, but that's too much. Literally $200 (+tax and s/h) is my ,ax!

Requirements:

Dual core, at least 1.2GHz or higher

2gb or more ram

Hard drive doesn't matter as I'll replace it with an SSD

Windows 8 preferably

NEW! Every other laptop I bought was either refurbished or used. I'd like to get a new one for the first time ever.

macrumors 68040

I'll be honest, you really need about $300. If $200 is all you have, then you are better off using the library (or the school's computer lab) until you can save up the extra $100. Frankly used will mean most likely a half dead battery which means in a year from now you will have to dump $50 more into it just to keep using it.

macrumors newbie

Hello. I have $200 that I'm able to spend on a new laptop. I'm looking for something that is relatively new (with Windows 8) to use as a companion to my desktop. I just need this for Skype, word processing, and general computing. Gaming and intensive applications will be kept on my desktop.

I was looking into the Acer C7 because I'm perfectly fine using Chrome OS. I use all of Google's services (including Drive instead of Microsoft Office) but the battery life is atrocious. Then I also looked into getting an ASUS Transformer TF101 with a keyboard dock, but that's too much. Literally $200 (+tax and s/h) is my ,ax!

Requirements:

Dual core, at least 1.2GHz or higher

2gb or more ram

Hard drive doesn't matter as I'll replace it with an SSD

Windows 8 preferably

NEW! Every other laptop I bought was either refurbished or used. I'd like to get a new one for the first time ever.

So please give me your recommendations!

Edit: screen size >11.6" and a DVD drive is optional.

I have been looking for weeks but can't find what I'm looking for.

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I'm thinking your problem is that you are at a price which really precludes you from affording virtually ANY computer - and on top of that, you're sticking to a list of requirements?

At $200, you should be happy to get your hands on ANY computer you can find. Beggars can't be choosers.

I'll be honest, you really need about $300. If $200 is all you have, then you are better off using the library (or the school's computer lab) until you can save up the extra $100. Frankly used will mean most likely a half dead battery which means in a year from now you will have to dump $50 more into it just to keep using it.

macrumors regular

I'm guessing that you're not going to find anything good for that price. You should either just pay the extra $50 for the Samsung Chromebook or live with the 4 hours of battery life on the Acer. For $200, you're only other options are netbooks with 1024x600 10.1" screens, atom processors (older versions not even the fairly decent newer ones), Windows 7 Starter (intended for developing countries), PLUS less than 4 hours of battery life. It all adds up to a horribe user experience. $350 is usually the price when Windows laptops become worth considering.

I'm guessing that you're not going to find anything good for that price. You should either just pay the extra $50 for the Samsung Chromebook or live with the 4 hours of battery life on the Acer. For $200, you're only other options are netbooks with 1024x600 10.1" screens, atom processors (older versions not even the fairly decent newer ones), Windows 7 Starter (intended for developing countries), PLUS less than 4 hours of battery life. It all adds up to a horribe user experience. $350 is usually the price when Windows laptops become worth considering.

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I have to say that when I had my MSi Wind u100 netbook, it was my favorite laptop. I had Snow Leopard running on that thing and had the glowing Apple mod on it... Ahhh memories...

My fingers are too big to use the keyboard comfortably, so that won't work

macrumors 65816

For $200, you're not going to find anything NEW that would be worth having, at least in my opinion. Go to eBay and find a deal on an off-lease Dell D630 - we have tons of these at school and they are built like TANKS. Core 2 Duo, up to 4GB RAM, SATA drives, etc. - and, if you're interested, Hackintosh-able.

macrumors G3

If you don't mind the ARM processor, you may want to save up for the Samsung Chromebook. The battery life is very good from what I've read.

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this. I have one and the quoted 6 hours battery life it more like 8.5 hours. I was at 6 hours yesterday and still showing 40% battery life, and you can only do so much so the "YMMV" is not drastically different

macrumors 604

You are NOT going to find a new laptop with those specs under $200. And I think you should also keep in mind that laptops, especially consumer/business targeted ones that are not Apple made, tend to be all different. I have a Dell Latitude that used a hard drive as thin as the current iPod Nano, and it had a ZIF connector. No way would you be able to stick anything else except that type of drive in there unless you modified the laptop and rewired everything. The enclosure is tiny.

Save up a little more money and don't settle for the cheapest thing out there, because you really do get what you pay for when it comes to this stuff.

So you're looking into a tablet but you don't want a tablet....? I think with your budget you would be best served with the new Samsung chrome book even if u have to wait to get it. Since you seem to be all in with google and on a tight budget that makes the most sense IMO.

thread startermacrumors 65816

So you're looking into a tablet but you don't want a tablet....? I think with your budget you would be best served with the new Samsung chrome book even if u have to wait to get it. Since you seem to be all in with google and on a tight budget that makes the most sense IMO.

Edit: by the way I love your pic, muse is excellent.

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TF101 with the keyboard dock is pretty much a laptop. The reason this is different from other laptops is that it folds down and is locked into the dock, not like an iPad or something with an external keyboard.

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